Euronews in Arabic and Latin
From the desk of Paul Belien on Thu, 2006-08-31 07:00
The European Commission is considering granting up to €5 million a year to news channel Euronews to broadcast in Arabic. EU communication commissioner Margot Wallstrom told Euobserver: “In the climate we have had this is absolutely the right idea.” Euronews currently broadcasts in English, French, German, Italian, Portuguese, Russian and Spanish.
Meanwhile, the EU Presidency, chaired by Finland, publishes a weekly summary of Euronews in Latin, the Conspectus Rerum Latinus. Classical Latin is the sixth language of the Presidency web site in addition to modern English, Finnish, Swedish, French and German. According to the Presidency the weekly EU review in Latin “keeps Professor Pekkanen and Docent Pitkäranta busy rendering 20th century terms into the Latin idiom.”
Latin and Arabic: Europe’s past and Europe’s future?
Euros knowing arabic
Submitted by Miriam on Sat, 2006-09-02 02:36.
If Europeans get to know arabic, they can fathom the depth of hatred to be found in quran. Some of the quotes are:
O believers, take not Jews and Christians as friends; they are friends of each other. Those of you who make them his friends is one of them. God does not guide an unjust people. - 5:54
Make war on them until idolatry is no more and Allah's religion reigns supreme - 8:39
O Prophet! Exhort the believers to fight. If there are 20 steadfast men among you, they shall vanquish 200; and if there are a hundred, they shall rout a thousand unbelievers, for they are devoid of understanding. - 8:65
Allah will humble the unbelievers. Allah and His apostle are free from obligations to idol-worshipers. Proclaim a woeful punishment to the unbelievers. - 9:2-3
Fighting is obligatory for you, much as you dislike it. - 2:216
Fight those who believe neither in God nor the Last Day, nor what has been forbidden by God and his messenger, nor acknowledge the religion of Truth, even if they are People of the Book, until they pay the tribute and have been humbled. - 9:29 (another source: ) The unbelievers are impure and their abode is hell. (another source: ) Humiliate the non-Muslims to such an extent that they surrender and pay tribute."
Impossible...
Submitted by Kapitein Andre on Fri, 2006-09-01 07:41.
Latin will probably remain a ceremonial language as it was not allowed to modernize and accept new terms past a specific date. Modernizing Latin would be akin to modernizing Chaucer's English - very difficult. The best idea is to raise the standard of English use (i.e. articulate) as it truly is a universal and living language...
Bringing back Latin
Submitted by Tito on Thu, 2006-08-31 09:44.
Here in the United States Latin is making a minor (if not major) comeback among school age children and now adults. The Latin website referred to in Finland is popular back here in the states. Outside of seminary and spanish-speaking students learning Latin, many Catholics are signing up for courses left and right. Seminars are packed and people have to be turned away in many cases. Among my practicing Catholic peers Latin is by far the favorite language to use when in mixed groups (of multi-lingual prayer groups) starting with Oremos and ending with Amen.
Without a doubt the Catholic faith is growing in quality as well as quantity here in the states, but not enough to warrant the government to add an all-Latin news service.
Maybe in formally recognizing Latin as an official language of Europe it would assist in the resurgance in Europe (albeit small). Many in France, Italy, Spain, and Portugal would learn quicker than others.
John Paul II's funeral Mass was predominantly in Latin only because the Vatican thought it was the best language that all viewing present and on television would understand instead of strictly in Italian.
Maybe it's time to assist in the Latin revival and bring back a dead language rich in culture, theology, and history.